PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari has raised concern over what he described as the growing normalisation of gay parties in Kuala Lumpur and several other Malaysian cities. Referring to multiple police raids on such events in the capital as well as in Johor Bahru and Penang, he suggested that the public’s reaction in these areas has become increasingly indifferent to gatherings involving LGBTQ individuals.
According to Fadhli, these incidents rarely provoke outrage outside Kelantan, unlike the recent case in his home state, which drew significant public and political attention. The remark came following a raid conducted in Kota Bharu in June, where more than 20 individuals were arrested during a gathering alleged to be a “gay party.” Further revelations from Kelantan police chief Yusoff Mamat confirmed that over 100 men were present at the time, with authorities finding large quantities of condoms, HIV medications, and party-related paraphernalia. However, initial investigations did not confirm any sexual activity taking place during the raid, though there were indications that preparations were underway.
While commending the Kelantan police for their swift action, Fadhli urged local authorities to remain vigilant and step up enforcement against what he described as morally deviant behaviour. He also voiced his hope that the Kelantan government would be empowered to introduce stricter legal frameworks targeting LGBTQ-related activities, even as he acknowledged the legal limitations imposed by the Federal Constitution.
His statement also referenced a 2023 ruling by the Federal Court that invalidated several provisions of Kelantan’s Syariah law. Among the annulled statutes were those criminalising cross-dressing and other gender non-conforming behaviours. The court held that such provisions exceeded the legislative powers of the state assembly, as criminal law falls under the federal jurisdiction.
Despite these legal hurdles, Fadhli insisted that Kelantan should continue to examine its legal options to implement stronger laws, provided they remain within constitutional bounds. He reiterated the long-standing position of PAS leaders, who have frequently called for decisive governmental and religious action to curtail the visibility and influence of LGBTQ communities in Malaysia.
The issue, as raised by Fadhli, once again underscores the deep divide between conservative states like Kelantan and more urbanised regions when it comes to social attitudes and legal enforcement on matters related to sexuality and public morality.
Kamran (kfiverr21@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact creator@newswav.com.